1,064 posts
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Post by David J on Oct 23, 2024 22:45:46 GMT
Theatre is there primarily to make money Let’s not pretend otherwise Everything else comes after What a deeply depressing outlook. I'm not looking at theatre from the PoV of a producer and nor should any creative be. Theatre should be political, emotional, meaningful. Not just a venture to make money. Hundreds of ceatives are being laid off in different media industries because there's no money left to fund them. Which is partly the companies fault for hiring too many in the first place and throwing money at dozens of projects in the last few years that have ultimately not sold well. Now they're tightening the belts and keeping the best talent that they can afford Arts isn't free. In the end the free market has its say, especially when customers vote with their wallet, and companies have to make profits in order for any piece of media to be made. Cold hearted capitalism for you. |
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2,348 posts
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Oct 24, 2024 7:16:19 GMT
The genocide in Gaza is a desperately heartbreaking situation, a blot on humanity. It does make me incredibly uncomfortable that our government supports the oppressor politically and militarily. It's an important conversation that needs to be had. Having said that, it does sound like the speech and the play are unrelated? I wonder if it would have been better to hold a spoken word night, where they invite artists to deliver a response to the play King Troll, in any way, related or unrelated. I'm seeing King Troll next week so will reserve my judgement until then. The end of a play And a unilateral proclamation of one persons point of view Isn’t having a conversation How would you feel If your doctor ambushed you with this at the end of your consultation Or the supermarket assistant stopped their task midway and started declaiming forth Irrespective of how uncomfortable people claim to feel They should speak to those in a position to bring about change And those individuals aren’t bothered as the position of the UK hasn’t changed as long as I have been alive There are lots of things people are uncomfortable about Yet they manage to get on with life and sleep at night Where is the check out assistant started putting well measured arguments forward on the subject de la jour. Sign me up for that one |
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19,855 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 24, 2024 8:13:29 GMT
Having said that, it does sound like the speech and the play are unrelated? I wonder if it would have been better to hold a spoken word night, where they invite artists to deliver a response to the play King Troll, in any way, related or unrelated. I'm seeing King Troll next week so will reserve my judgement until then. How would you feel If your doctor ambushed you with this at the end of your consultation Oh that’s easy. I’d just put the phone down 😆 |
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Post by osdtdg on Oct 24, 2024 8:37:57 GMT
The genocide in Gaza is a desperately heartbreaking situation, a blot on humanity. It does make me incredibly uncomfortable that our government supports the oppressor politically and militarily. It's an important conversation that needs to be had. Having said that, it does sound like the speech and the play are unrelated? I wonder if it would have been better to hold a spoken word night, where they invite artists to deliver a response to the play King Troll, in any way, related or unrelated. I'm seeing King Troll next week so will reserve my judgement until then. The end of a play And a unilateral proclamation of one persons point of view Isn’t having a conversation How would you feel If your doctor ambushed you with this at the end of your consultation Or the supermarket assistant stopped their task midway and started declaiming forth Irrespective of how uncomfortable people claim to feel They should speak to those in a position to bring about change And those individuals aren’t bothered as the position of the UK hasn’t changed as long as I have been alive There are lots of things people are uncomfortable about Yet they manage to get on with life and sleep at night It's is still part Of the play if You are still in the Theatre and A talk is listed on the website beforehand |
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Post by parsley1 on Oct 24, 2024 9:32:00 GMT
The end of a play And a unilateral proclamation of one persons point of view Isn’t having a conversation How would you feel If your doctor ambushed you with this at the end of your consultation Or the supermarket assistant stopped their task midway and started declaiming forth Irrespective of how uncomfortable people claim to feel They should speak to those in a position to bring about change And those individuals aren’t bothered as the position of the UK hasn’t changed as long as I have been alive There are lots of things people are uncomfortable about Yet they manage to get on with life and sleep at night It's is still part Of the play if You are still in the Theatre and A talk is listed on the website beforehand No talk was listed As we have repeated many times It wasn’t a talk It was an outburst with no warning |
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Post by hannechalk on Oct 24, 2024 10:16:39 GMT
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Post by oxfordsimon on Oct 24, 2024 22:10:17 GMT
I am just home from reviewing Rigoletto at the New Theatre in Oxford.
On arrival we were greeted by members of the chorus and orchestra who were protesting about the cuts that WNO are dealing with.
It was respectful and convivial.
The orchestra were all wearing protest t shirts in the pit. Which was quite a striking change (pardon the pun)
At the curtain call, the chorus donned their protest shirts as did some of the principals.
After the bows, the second bassoonist joined the company on stage to explain the protest and to ask for support in their ongoing campaign.
The cuts will see the chorus and orchestra reduced in size and with greater use of casual players/singers.
Whilst we, the audience, were not aware of the planned speech at the end. We were very much aware that a protest was underway from the very outset.
I wasn't aware of anyone leaving during the speech. And it was very, very warmly received in the auditorium.
Even with everything I have said on this thread, I think this is an example of how performers can use the stage as a platform of their campaign without causing uproar.
Having said that, if the same occurs at the end of Il Trittico tomorrow, I shall slip out having already heard it!
Yes, this was about as middle class a protest that you can possibly imagine. But many present are facing redundancy and a return to uncertain employment. And having an agreed way of using their voices doesn't seem unreasonable.
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5,030 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Oct 25, 2024 6:19:05 GMT
Also, it's safe to assume that most punters at the opera support the art form so it's a natural issue to petition for. Unlike the Dream in Manchester with it's tagged on issues
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472 posts
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Post by mistressjojo on Oct 25, 2024 7:47:36 GMT
Last year three actors in a local production of The Seagull wore Palestinian keffiyehs during the curtain call of its opening night. They didn't say anything , but the theatre company received so many complaints they cancelled the next performance & issued a formal apology.
It didn't help the actors cause either that several of the larger benefactors & board members of the company are Jewish.
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Post by punxsutawney on Oct 25, 2024 8:28:02 GMT
Last year three actors in a local production of The Seagull wore Palestinian keffiyehs during the curtain call of its opening night. They didn't say anything , but the theatre company received so many complaints they cancelled the next performance & issued a formal apology. It didn't help the actors cause either that several of the larger benefactors & board members of the company are Jewish. That is a respectful and understated gesture and it is a shameful move from the theatre company to fold to pressure over such a non-issue. |
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858 posts
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Post by duncan on Oct 25, 2024 10:11:35 GMT
Supporting terrorism isn't respectful and understated.
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Post by punxsutawney on Oct 25, 2024 10:34:03 GMT
Supporting terrorism isn't respectful and understated. A keffiyeh is simply a piece of clothing. Over 100,000 people in Gaza have been killed as part of the war. Regardless of personal opinions on the conflict, wearing a piece of clothing in solidarity with those killed is not supporting terrorism, and such a disingenuous position should not be given credence. |
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Post by marob on Oct 25, 2024 17:15:46 GMT
Well, I would take issue with the WNO thing.
“Our mission is to bring the power, drama and raw emotion of opera to as wide an audience as possible in performances, marked by an uncompromising quest for artistic quality.”
That’s from their website. I live in Wales, and they don’t come anywhere near me, yet someone in Oxford can go to multiple productions by them.
Why should the Welsh Arts Council keep subsidising them if that’s the case? Of the performances they do in Wales the vast majority are solely in Cardiff, yet the same productions have multiple dates around England.
But that’s by the by. My actual point is this: Someone’s always going to be offended, or annoyed, or have a contrary opinion about something.
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Post by oxfordsimon on Oct 25, 2024 19:15:38 GMT
WNO receives funding from ACE and ACW
It has toured England and Wales for as long as I can remember.
I appreciate that Llandudno has lost all performances in the current season. The same is true of Bristol and Liverpool has been significantly scaled back.
Oxford gets very little professional opera. WNO is now the only regular visiting company.
WNO want to fight for a better settlement so they can retain a full chorus and orchestra as well as returning to all areas. And that will include performances in Wales and England.
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19,855 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 25, 2024 19:23:52 GMT
Well, I would take issue with the WNO thing. “Our mission is to bring the power, drama and raw emotion of opera to as wide an audience as possible in performances, marked by an uncompromising quest for artistic quality.” That’s from their website. I live in Wales, and they don’t come anywhere near me, yet someone in Oxford can go to multiple productions by them. Why should the Welsh Arts Council keep subsidising them if that’s the case? Of the performances they do in Wales the vast majority are solely in Cardiff, yet the same productions have multiple dates around England. But that’s by the by. My actual point is this: Someone’s always going to be offended, or annoyed, or have a contrary opinion about something. WNO receives funding from ACE and ACW It has toured England and Wales for as long as I can remember. I appreciate that Llandudno has lost all performances in the current season. The same is true of Bristol and Liverpool has been significantly scaled back. Oxford gets very little professional opera. WNO is now the only regular visiting company. WNO want to fight for a better settlement so they can retain a full chorus and orchestra as well as returning to all areas. And that will include performances in Wales and England. Off topic. Start your own thread please. |
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